RJ has been getting some good time on both the TWP Bomb Pop and the new Signature model from TWP. Both of these boards seem like a big step forward. They are both FAST, very fast. RJ giggles when he puts his foot down. The thing that seems to make them a great step forward, is that they seem VERY forgiving. That is not just from watching RJ, but several others ride them, like Dennis, Chris Martinez, Maddie and Whitney, a pretty wide range of riders and skill levels. RJ rode the 4.9 sizes of both boards first, and then got a chance to try the 4.5s. When he rode the 4.9s he felt that they were faster than the original flyboy, and definitely much more forgiving. However, its a longer board, so that should be the case. For instance, if he widened his stance too much on the 4.5 original flyboy it would go down fast and he would pearl and faceplant. He still loved the board, a game changer when it came out no doubt. As he grew and widened his stance more, he became more and more uncomfortable riding it, having to narrow his stance more, due to his growing like a weed. RJ is now 6'. So RJ gets to ride the 4.5 signature and bomb pop, and whoah, it was all over his face. He loved the speed, but he kept looking at me with amazement and saying, "Dad, I can't pearl it!" He was accelerating forward and then pressing his foot down, trying to pearl it, and it didn't go down.
As for the Bomb Pop, its the same with 2 added benefits. It pops you off the lip like no other board for RJ yet, hence the name. Also, RJ seems to have more control when stalling revert or doing anything in reverse. The only negative is that with the thicker tail the rails in the back seem to catch on landings and spins and stuff. Its minimal, but enough to make him tell Dennis about it and explain what he felt. Overall, 2 amazing boards. Maddie doesn't want to surf much anymore when the 4.5 signature isn't around. More control, less pearling, and I saw the difference right away, she can recover from VERY far back. Maddie stinks at pumping and we are always turning around to get her. The 4.5 Signature is going to save me gas! Keep in mind she is coming from an older 4.0 Signature, but she has ridden other boards, this board gave her the extra speed, added control and extra forgiveness, all things a budding surfer could use. Now for some pics.
Before I show the pics, we forgot the battery for the Canon SLR this day, and so I used a go pro hero2. Not as good in color or clarity, but I felt comfortable hanging it over the side so had some fun there.
Here is Maddie, first time on the board, and the first time she ever got the fins out of the water, can't make stuff like that up.
GOPR2412 by wake9, on Flickr
Here is Whitney about to ride, her riding pics were too dark, but you can see the shape and tail here. Notice the 4.5, front traction goes all the way to the logo.
GOPR2614 by wake9, on Flickr
This is dennis on the 4.5, that's 280 lbs on the 4.5. The only 4.5 he could ride before this was the orignal flyboy. Dennis rode it faster and farther back than I can remember, at least the same.
GOPR2643 by wake9, on Flickr
Here he is on the 4.9, he was able to ride almost as far back as his 5.3 goofy board, but I didn't get a shot all the way back this day, hard on the go pro.
GOPR2666 by wake9, on Flickr
Here he is attempting air. D'oh!
GOPR2679 by wake9, on Flickr
This is the best pic I have of the shape and size, its a small board.
GOPR2755 by wake9, on Flickr
RJ had no problem riding the 4.5 as far back as any board.
GOPR2784 by wake9, on Flickr
GOPR2788 by wake9, on Flickr
RJ got some good air on the 4.5.
GOPR2810 by wake9, on Flickr
This is my favorite air picture of him on the 4.5, this is behind the Harrington's Supreme.
IMG_6565 by wake9, on Flickr
You can't miss that fat tail of the Bomb Pop.
GOPR2986 by wake9, on Flickr
This one is less distorted by the GoPro.
GOPR2991 by wake9, on Flickr
RJ loved going in reverse on this board, he felt he had lots of control.
GOPR3154 by wake9, on Flickr
Now here is the thing, the Z3 gives him good pop, and then add the Bomb Pop, he got higher than any other board I have seen to date consitently. He gets great air on the Soulcraft Jetty and the Shred Stixx Custom Pro, but the pictures don't lie.
GOPR3075 by wake9, on Flickr
GOPR3076 by wake9, on Flickr
Anyway, great board, and don't take our word for it, demo it. I know johnboy is coming up this weekend and going to get a good ride. I was actually working on some video, which I will finish later tonight and post.
As for the Bomb Pop, its the same with 2 added benefits. It pops you off the lip like no other board for RJ yet, hence the name. Also, RJ seems to have more control when stalling revert or doing anything in reverse. The only negative is that with the thicker tail the rails in the back seem to catch on landings and spins and stuff. Its minimal, but enough to make him tell Dennis about it and explain what he felt. Overall, 2 amazing boards. Maddie doesn't want to surf much anymore when the 4.5 signature isn't around. More control, less pearling, and I saw the difference right away, she can recover from VERY far back. Maddie stinks at pumping and we are always turning around to get her. The 4.5 Signature is going to save me gas! Keep in mind she is coming from an older 4.0 Signature, but she has ridden other boards, this board gave her the extra speed, added control and extra forgiveness, all things a budding surfer could use. Now for some pics.
Before I show the pics, we forgot the battery for the Canon SLR this day, and so I used a go pro hero2. Not as good in color or clarity, but I felt comfortable hanging it over the side so had some fun there.
Here is Maddie, first time on the board, and the first time she ever got the fins out of the water, can't make stuff like that up.
GOPR2412 by wake9, on Flickr
Here is Whitney about to ride, her riding pics were too dark, but you can see the shape and tail here. Notice the 4.5, front traction goes all the way to the logo.
GOPR2614 by wake9, on Flickr
This is dennis on the 4.5, that's 280 lbs on the 4.5. The only 4.5 he could ride before this was the orignal flyboy. Dennis rode it faster and farther back than I can remember, at least the same.
GOPR2643 by wake9, on Flickr
Here he is on the 4.9, he was able to ride almost as far back as his 5.3 goofy board, but I didn't get a shot all the way back this day, hard on the go pro.
GOPR2666 by wake9, on Flickr
Here he is attempting air. D'oh!
GOPR2679 by wake9, on Flickr
This is the best pic I have of the shape and size, its a small board.
GOPR2755 by wake9, on Flickr
RJ had no problem riding the 4.5 as far back as any board.
GOPR2784 by wake9, on Flickr
GOPR2788 by wake9, on Flickr
RJ got some good air on the 4.5.
GOPR2810 by wake9, on Flickr
This is my favorite air picture of him on the 4.5, this is behind the Harrington's Supreme.
IMG_6565 by wake9, on Flickr
You can't miss that fat tail of the Bomb Pop.
GOPR2986 by wake9, on Flickr
This one is less distorted by the GoPro.
GOPR2991 by wake9, on Flickr
RJ loved going in reverse on this board, he felt he had lots of control.
GOPR3154 by wake9, on Flickr
Now here is the thing, the Z3 gives him good pop, and then add the Bomb Pop, he got higher than any other board I have seen to date consitently. He gets great air on the Soulcraft Jetty and the Shred Stixx Custom Pro, but the pictures don't lie.
GOPR3075 by wake9, on Flickr
GOPR3076 by wake9, on Flickr
Anyway, great board, and don't take our word for it, demo it. I know johnboy is coming up this weekend and going to get a good ride. I was actually working on some video, which I will finish later tonight and post.
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